Strategy 2023 – 2028
‘I want CASBA to still be here ’ Martyn Spooner, Head of CASBA Ambassadors 2022
35 years of speaking up in Birmingham When people’s voices are heard, change happens. At CASBA, citizens are in the lead. What we do is help citizens find their voice, be listened to, and speak up on the platforms that matter.
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As we celebrate 35 years of citizen voice in south Birmingham, we are ever closer to our vision:
Over 35 years, CASBA has supported thousands of people with learning disabilities: Helping to prevent crisis
Helping families stay together
Co-producing services so they’re what people need, and provide better value
Helping people into work by training employers to be more inclusive
Training young people with learning disabilities in self-advocacy to be the voice of their community 4
‘a society where people with learning disabilities live as equal citizens.’
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We have an excellent QPM accreditation means citizens and stakeholders trust us.
We are unique CASBA is led by experts by experience. This makes us unique in Birmingham. We offer free, non-statutory, person-centred advocacy that’s accredited, holistic,
We make a Families stay together giving their children the best start in life. 6
reputation ‘Your citizens are always front and centre in everything you do. When anyone asks me about co-production I always tell them to talk to CASBA and their citizens. They’ll show you how to do it!’
and in line with the Advocacy Charter. Citizens with learning disabilities make decisions as part of our Board, as members of our working groups on EDI, Voice, and Impact. All work is cocreated. This produces the best solution to any problem.
difference People with learning disabilities are equal citizens in society.
People with learning disabilities get their voice heard. 7
Vision, Mission and Values Vision
A society where people with learning disabilities live as equal citizens.
Mission CASBA helps people with learning disabilities to get their voices heard and their rights accepted.
Our Values Respect
We work together
CASBA shows care and concern to all people. We will not tell you what to do. You can say what you think and make your own choices.
CASBA make changes happen by listening to and working with our citizens. When we work with others, all our voices are stronger.
Accessible We understand that everyone is different. We work with people in ways and in places that are safe and easy for them.
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CASBA Strategy
2023-28
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Our strategic goals
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We’re welcoming
Welcome is at the core of CASBA’s values of respect, accessibility and working with others. In all our activities, we will work ever harder to ensure all people and partners are included and valued.
We will: Move to fully accessible offices Create a work culture and environment that is inclusive of all protected characteristics Develop our accessibility strategy, our trustee-led EDI and citizen voice working groups. Publish our EDI strategy by 2025 Become ever more led by citizens with lived experience, developing a co-working colleague model across the organisation by 2025 All our comms will be in accessible formats with Easy Read as standard Continue to develop our accessible Easy Read website and reach more people. 10
for the next five years
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2.
We’re supportive
We support and empower citizens to speak up for themselves, express their views and make their choices. Because of CASBA, citizens’ voices are heard, listened to, and acted on. CASBA is citizen-led. This makes us unique in Birmingham. We will bring our unique offer to more people, in more ways, right across our city. We will: Work in more areas, closer to where people live Keep more families together by making Pregnancy to Parenthood available city-wide Achieve local, regional, and national impact and system change through our work and citizen voice Better support, value and diversify our staff. We are a Living Wage Employer. We will ensure our workplace is inclusive, fair and staff wellbeing a priority We will sustain current jobs and increase capacity to support more people. 12
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3.
We’re making a difference
We know we make a difference, we see it everyday in our work. We want to improve how we tell people, funders and partners about the difference we make. We will: Further develop our organisational impact measurement framework commissioned in 2022 so we can tell our story of change in more compelling ways We will be an impact-driven organisation, making best use of our online secure database to spot trends and gaps and better communicate our story of change. 14
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4.
Everyone knows us
We’re advocates. We’re wellknown in south Birmingham for person-centred, holistic crisis alleviation and prevention support. We want to build on this reputation and be known right across the city and beyond. We want people to know: a. Who we are b. What we do and c. How they can access our services and partner with us to mutual benefit Our name - CASBA - is an acronym which isn’t Easy Read and doesn’t fit with our accessible values. We will: Commission a marketing and comms strategy, and consider a full re-brand and name change. 16
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5.
We are strong
In 2022, our Head of Ambassadors and trustee Martyn Spooner tasked CASBA with ensuring that ‘we can still be here for citizens with learning disabilities’ for another 35 years. We have responded to this challenge through this strategy. We will: Diversify our funding sources Strengthen organisational resilience Earn our own income by launching a new social enterprise increasing employment opportunities for citizens Increase donations by: a) re-launching the Friends of CASBA giving scheme b) starting legacy fundraising and a c) major gift-giving circle 18
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Do you want to help? The ideas in this strategy have all been produced by citizens with learning disabilities working together with our staff.
Like all charities, our success depends on how much money we raise.
Become a friend of CASBA and be part of our impact. Your regular donation will help us change citizens’ lives.
casba.org.uk/support-us/donate
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